Signal device



Ju ne 3 1924- L.- M. TARTAGLIA SIGNAL DEVICE Filed June 25, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 3 1 L. M. TARTAGLIA SIGNAL DEVICE Filed June 25, 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3, 1924. 1,496,185 L. M. TARTAGLIA SIGNAL DEVICE Filed June 25, 1923' 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 Patented June 3, 1924. l 4 7 1 496 15 TATES PTENT OFFICE.

LEONABDO M. TARTAGLIA, F ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed. June 25, 1923. Serial No. 647,683.

To all coll-0m itmag concern. variations as will increase the usefulness, 55

Be it known that I, LEONARDO M. TAR- provided such changes constitute no depar- TAGLIA, acitizen of the United States,residing ture from the spirit of the claims hereunto at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo appended.

and State of New Mexico, have invented cer- In the drawings wherein like reference tain new and useful Improvements in Signal characters designate corresponding parts 60 Devices, of which the following is a specifithroughout the several views: cation. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front This invention relates to signal devices, portion of the automobile looking toward particularly to traffic signals, and has special the wind shield from the inside of the body reference to that class of such devices genand showing my device applied. 65 erally designated direction indicators and Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line designed for use on automobiles and other 22 of Figur 1. 7 road vehicles for indicating to the drivers Figure 3 is a detail cross section on the of approaching and following vehicles, peline 3-3 of Figure 2 showing themounting destrains, traific ofiicers and all other int'erof the actuatingpedal. 70 ested parties, any contemplated change in Figure 4c is a vertical section through the the direction of travel or an intended stop, casing enclosing the signal members. the device having the advantage of reduc- Figure 5 is an elevation of the outer end ing likelihood of collision and preventing thereof.

traflic congestion. v Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 75 An important and more specific object is 6 6 of Figure at. the provision of a signal device having oper- Figure 7 is a detail horizontal section ating means under the immediate control of taken through one side of the wind shield the driver whereby he may, without removframe and showing a plan view of the signal ing his hands from the steering wheel, actucase. 0 ate the signal to give notice to moving traffic Figure 8 is a perspectivediagram showof his intention to slow down,'stop, or to ing the signal members and operating means turn in either direction. therefor.

Another feature of the invention is the Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan view provision of a plurality of movable signal illustrating the arrangement for niaintainarms, preferably of the semaphore type, ing the controls in operative relation to the which may be selectively actuated from the actuating pedal at all times.

normal state of inactivity into display posi- Figure 10 is a detail section showing one 35 'tlOl'l, the plates or semaphore arms bearing of the springs associated with the actuating appropriate legends which Wlll give a posipedal.

live indication of the drivers intentions, and Figure ll is a detail section through the the legends being, moreover, readable from too board showing the operation of the acthe front as well as the back of the car. tuating pedal.

40 An additional object is the provision of a Referring more particularly to the drawsignal apparatus of this character which will ings, the letter A designates a portion of the be simple and inexpensive to manufacture body of an automobile having the usual floor and install, easy to control and operate, posiboards B and toe boards C which are slotted tive in action, efficient and durable in servin the customary manner and through which 45 ice, and a general improvement in the art. extend and above which are mounted the To the attainment of the foregoing and clutch pedal D and brake pedal E. Mountother objects and advantages, the invention ed on the body is the usual wind shield consists in the details of construction and frame F below which is disposed the instruarrangenient-to be hereinafter more fully'dement board G. H designates the dash.

5o scribed and claimed, it being understood, In carrying out my invention I provide a however, that the specific structure is merely preferably rectangular casing 10 whichmay an exemplification'of a preferred embodibe constructed of any suitable size and of ment of the invention as the right is reany preferred material and which may be served to make all such modifications and enameled, paintedor otherwise treated to formed on this pedal is anupstanding ball present a pleasing appearance and to resist the weather. This casing might be mounted upon the vehicle in anyone of many ways though for the sake of illustration T have. shown elongated bars 11 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the top and bottom of the casing and which terminate at one end in forked heads 12 embracing the wind shield frame F and secured thereto by screws 13 or other equivalent fastening elements. The outer end of the uppermost bar 11 is formed with an extension 14; projecting beyond the outer end of the casing and carrying a suitable socketwithin which is mounted an incandescent bulb 15 which is for the purpose of illuminatingthesignal members to be described, when the device is used at night. Extending transversely of the casing near the upper outermost corner thereof is a shaft 16 upon which are rotatably mounted arms 17, 18, 19 and 20 carrying semaphore blades or plates 21, 22, 23 and 2a, respectively, which might be inscribed with any suitable indicia but which are here shown as bearing the legends Slow, Left, Stop and Right, respectively, thelegends being provided on both sides of each plate. It is intended that these plates be swung selectively to project beyond the outer endof the casing into signaling position and for this reason the outer end of the casing is formed with slots 25 for the passage of the respective blades, the upper ends of the slots defining.

shoulders 26 which'operate to limit the upward swinging movement so that the blades will extend horizontally when in operative position. The edge of the casing toward the wind shield is formed with slots 27 through which project grooved pulleys 2-8, 29, 30 and 31 for the purpose to be described, these pulleys being all rotatably mounted upon a common shaft 32 which extends transversely of the casing at a point intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

Theordinary clutchpedal is replaced by the pedal D shown, and cast or otherwise member 33 upon which is engaged a depending socket 34- on an actuating pedal 35 which is mounted above and in spaced relation to the pedalD. This actuating or auxiliary pedal is held in its normal position parallel with the pedal D by means of coil springs 36. The underside of the pedal D is here illustrated as equipped with spaced ears 37 which are straddlingly engaged upon the upper end 9f the clutch pedal shank I, connection being made by means of a clamping bolt 38 which permits adjustment of the parts to meet the requirements .of the indi vidual user or to take up any inequality in the pull on certain operating cables to be described;

Mounted upon the forward edge of the pedal D is a grooved pulley 39 under which cable 40-.

is trained a cable or other flexible member a0 which is secured at T1 to the free forward edge of the actuating pedal 35. This cable 4:0 also passes under a grooved pulley 1-2 journaled in the bracket +l3 mounted on the dash H. Mounted at the lower edge of the instrument board G is a bracket 41- carrying a roller against which the cable -10 bears. After passing over this roller -15 the cable is brought upwardly into the casing 10 where it is connected with the arm 19, the cable being trained over the pulley 30.

Secured to the rear edge of the actuating pedal 35. as shown at a6, is a cable l? which passes under a pulley 48 mounted in a bracket 49 which is swiveled on the floor B. After leaving the pulley 4-8, this cable is brought under a second guide pulley 50 mounted in a suitable bracket and from this the cable is brought up over the pulley 28 and into the casing 10 where it connects with the arm 17.

Swiveled on the toe boards at opposite sides of the clutch pedal are brackets 51 and 52 in which are journaled grooved guide pulleys and 54, respectively. Connected with the right hand edge of the actuating pedal, as shown at 5 is a cable 56 which is led under the pulley 53 and then up over the roller 45 and pulley 31 into the casing 10 where it connects with the arm 20, while connected with the left edge of the actuating pedal. as shown at 57, is a cable 58 which is trained under the pulley 5i and then up over the pulley 29 into the casing where it connects with the arm 18.

The operation of the device is as follows:

lVhen the vehicle is traveling straight ahead the clutch pedal is in its normal or rearmost position and the actuating pedal is in its inactive position maintained by the springs 36. In the event that the driver intends to stop and presses upon the pedal D to throw out his clutch. the pedal D is moved forwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, carrying with it the actuating pedal 35. By reference to the diagram shown in Figure 9. it will be seen that when this occurs the cables 56 and 58 are not subjected to any tension as they simply move points of contact of these cables with the pulleys 53 and 54- and the points of connection of the cables with the actuating pedal remains the same. At the same time there is no pull upon the cable 40 owing to the fact that the actuating pedal may rock forwardly slightly to compensate for any tension which might tend to come upon the As a matter of fact, the only result of this purely forward movement of the pedals is to exert a pull upon the cable 47 which results in swinging the arm 17 and projecting the signal blade 21 carried thereby through the slotted end of the casing into horizontal position extending exteriorly of the casing, as shown by full lines in Figure 1 and by dotted lines in Figure 8. As this signal plate bears the legend Slow.

the operators of other cars will be warned to proceed with cautlon.

After giving this Slow signal, if the operator should then decide to stop, he presses with his heel upon the rear end of the actuating pedal 35 and this relieves the tension on the cable 47 so that the signal blade 21 will gravitationally return to its inactive position within the casing, while at the same time a pull is exerted upon the cable 40 which results in swinging the arm 19 and blade 23 so that this blade bearing the legend Stop will be swung into exposed position.

If the driver intends to turn to the left, he may actuate the signal to give this indication without throwing out the clutch, if he so prefers. If this is the desire, it is merely necessary that he press upon the right side of the actuating pedal 35 so as to exert a pull upon the cable 58, whereupon the signal blade 22 carrying the legend Left will be projected through the slot in the casing into exposed position. An intended turn to the right may be correspondingly indicated by depressing the left side of the actuating pedal so as to rock it upon its ball and socket mounting and apply apull to the cable 56 for swinging the plate 24 into operative position.

If the operator throws out his clutch preliminary to making the turn, he presses upon the right or left side of the actuating pedal 35 in the same manner as above described while at the same time pressing the two superposed pedals forwardly. The location of the pulleys must be carefully selected and the cables must likewise be arranged in a very particular manner in order that the proper pull willbe exerted on the signal member when the actuating pedal is rocked in either one of the four possible directions as it is of vital importance that only the proper and desired cable be pulled when any certain directional movement is given to the actuating pedal. It is to be noted that there is no necessity for providing any spring mechanism for returning the various signal members to inactive position as gravity will operate to accomplish this when the pull on any cable is relieved. I have not shown any wiring connections to the incandescent bulb as it is obvious that it would naturally be equipped with suitable feed wires connected to the storage battery of the car and it would be preferable to provide a suitable cut-ofl switch in the feed line so as to cut out the light when the signal is operated in the day time.

On its side toward the driver the casing 10 is equipped with a mirror 59 which will enable the operator, to view traflic to the rear and govern his actions by the situation disclosed.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and easily installed signaling device which will be highly efiective for the purpose specified and which will operate as a great safe-guard to the public and to the drivers themselves especially when motoring through more or less congested districts. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An actuator comprising the combination with the clutch control pedal of a vehicle transmission of an auxiliary pedal having a universal joint mounting thereon whereby to be capable of rocking movement in any direction irrespective of or in conjuction with movement of the clutch pedal, and movable elements connected with different points on said auxiliary pedal and adapt ed for connection with signals to be operated.

2. In combination with the clutch control pedal of a motor vehicle transmission, means for actuating a signal comprising an auxiliary pedal rockably mounted upon the clutch pedal and movable with respect thereto, means normally opposing movement of the auxiliary pedal, and flexible members con nected with said auxiliary pedal and adapted for connection with a signal to be operated. V

3. Means for operating a signal comprising a support formed with a ball head, a pedal carried by the support and having a socket receiving said ball head, resilient means opposing movement of the pedal,

guide elements, and flexible members connected with different points on said pedal, trained about said guide elements and adapted for connection with signals to be operated.

4. An actuating pedal structure including a support, a ball head rising therefrom, a

pedal having a depending socket conformingly engaged upon said head, a plurality of springs disposed between the support and the pedal for opposing movement of the latter, and movable elements connected with different points on the pedal and adapted for connection with signals to be operated.

5. The combination with the clutch pedal, of a vehicle transmission of an actuating pedal having a ball and socket mounting upon the clutch pedal and rockable in any direction, springs interposed between the actuating pedal and the clutch pedal for maintaining the former normally at a fixed position with respect to the latter, and memhers .connected with difierent points on the actuating pedal and adapted for connection with a signal.

6. An actuating pedal universally mounted upon the clutch pedal of a vehicle,

springs opposing movements ofthe actuat- 1ng pedal with respect to the clutch pedal, a series of flexible elements connected with said actuating pedal and adapted for connection with signal members, and guides engaged by said flexible members.

,7. An actuating pedal having a universal joint mounting upon the top of the clutch pedal of a vehicle, a guide pulley mounted up n the forward edge of the clutch pedal,

a. flexible member secured to the forward end of the-actuating pedal and trained under said pulley, a guide pulley stationarily mounted on the floor of the vehicle to the rear of the clutch pedal, a flexible member connected with the rear end of the actuating pedal and trained under said second named pulley, a pair of brackets swivelly mounted uponthe vehicle floor at opposite sides of the clutch pedal and carrying guide pulleys, and flexible members connected with the opposite sides of the actuating pedals and trained under said last named pulleys, all of said flexible members being adapted for connection with signal members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEONARDO M. TARTAGLIA. 

